Salmon fishing started slowly this week with the odd productive tide at the red can. Fish from 6-15lbs were taken on small spoons from 90-120 feet.
To the applause of anglers, a new wave of chinooks arrived on the south side of Barkley Sound in time for the weekend. The fleets from Ucluelet and Bamfield have congregated off Mears Bluff to get in on the action. Try small non glow spoons fished at 80-115 feet depending on time of day. Start up high in the column and look deeper as the sun makes its way higher in the sky. The fish have turned on and off gear abruptly so switch it up in periods of stagnation. They're probably still feeding, just on something else. Try a white (55) needlefish as a good place to start.
Halibut continued to be taken in the 10-40 lb range close to home on Inside Lighthouse Bank to start the week. Trolling was producing volume of chicken halibut with some nice Turkeys (20-40lb fish) coming on anchor. Lighthouse bank has since load in the rod hours are being spent a little more afar. The barnyard has become the spot of choice with halibut in the 15- 50 pound range being taken fishing bellies on anchor. A large number of skate are currently present at the Barnyard. Try keeping your hali gear suspended slightly higher off the deck to avoid multiple big skate hookups.
Lingcod has been slow with some success coming to those willing to put in the rod time amongst the offshore rock piles off the Broken Group. We expect a gradual improvement in the lingcod fishery over the coming weeks.
